I happened across the news of Kanye West's outburst, which seems to be becoming a regular slot of the VMAs (or any award show that doesn't seem to agree with his bets at the bookie's) and watched, on 'the youtube', his rendition of John McEnroe's courtside lament. Granted I am not the world's biggest fan of Taylor Swift, but how sad and pathetic is this man becoming? Is this the hip-hop/r&b community's answer to the Britney meltdown? If so, will Kanye, as Ms. Spears did, bounce back? He's had a pretty hectic 18 months or so....
Let's remember, being subjective of course, West is an extraordianry talent. 808s and Heartbreak is, in my opinion, his masterpiece to date. It blends Depeche Modesque licks and beats with subtle yet highly creative lyrics. He has an onstage presence like no other at the moment. But, If he wants a career that is remembered for talent rather than his outbursts (which, let's face it...is generally irrelevent) he needs to pull his head out of his ass and let the world spin naturally. Bear in mind Mr. West; you're not a legend just yet. Why be infamously remembered when you can be famously remembered?
I'm not going to waste much more time talking about it, in my opinion, I would say that he's being encouraged by show organisers to do these things...it seems to make for a talking point afterwards...cast your minds back to P-Diddy/Puff Daddy/Sean Comb's bus at the 2002 VMAs...I would think it's something along those lines.
[On a side note, I have to take my hat off to Taylor Swift, while I don't like her music particularly, I thought the subway idea was excellent. Whoever came up with that was a genius. And Swift did a pretty awesome job too...even if the song was a little bit tweenish]
My second investment regards the...Lady Gaga...
Her music is catchy, beaty, interesting, 'get your ass out of your seatish', but at the same time, uninventive, repetitious, and, if lacking the required atmosphere;...annoying. However, the performer is not. After seeing an article in the Huffington Post which made reference to her choice of fashion for the event...one thing (or person) came to mind; Bjork 2001 Academy Awards and the now infamous 'swan dress'. But, let's not give Ms. Gaga the hyberbolic acclaimation that has been bestowed upon Bjork over the last decade or so. Gaga is, for want of a better term, pretentious but rather bright it seems. I came across an interview conducted by funny man Jonathan Ross with 'Gaga' and it didn't seem to go too well. She came across as a little standoff-ish and it was as though the whole thing was beneath her, as she held her teacup (no doubt an attempt to seem bizarre and 'Warholian').
Indeed, she is the 'it' girl of the moment. Teens (and adults) around the globe bop their head to her music and without doubt, some pubescent teenager has gotten pregnant to the sounds of "Pokerface" at the mercy of some young man's 'disco-stick'. However, her music, at least the style she creates now, has a sell by date...but here's the clever part...the very aspect of her fame that made me look farther into her career...her fashion. Even as I watch the 2009 VMAs now, the announcer preluded Gaga's performance with "what will she wear and what will she do?". She is keeping her 'anthemic' tunes relevant by being something to stare at. I dare say that it is reminiscent of Michael Jackson in the early 1990s, but I shall not just yet...she is nowhere near as experienced or talented as Jackson...but obviously, it would be wrong to rule her out of contention in say, another 20 or 30 years time...I cannot predict the future, but it seems unlikely.
Despite my cribbing, Russell Brand made an excellent point about Ms. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta; she has been the victim of nasty rumours in the media regarding her gender. It's cruel and wrong; and could probably explain a few things regarding her attitude to the media.
So far, I have little to complain about regarding Ms. Gaga, she is a clever girl with a knowledge of how to stay in the spotlight. However, after seeing her Phantom of the Opera get up and the feathered face nest thing...she does come across as a bit of an, to quote an old friend of mine, attention seeking whore? I'm merely making an observation of a performer who, I believe, thinks a little too highly of herself. Let's not forget, she is but 23. Hopefully her future music will be as relevent to the times as her music seems to be now, but let's hope that she can create something that can be the focus of attention rather than merely her 'designer of the week, let's see how queen of heartsish I can look' fashion sense. this would be good to see, she has good vocal and dancing talent which seems to play second fiddle to what she wears and third fiddle to her attitude. And let's remember, neither MTV nor the Grammy folks hand out accolades for fashion...at least not yet.
Gaga has made it clear in various interviews that she seeks not; a romantic companion in life...fair enough. But I think that her choice of words in some of her interviews is a little bit fake and inappropriate. Yes, we understand that you are trying to appear independent and, as I said before, Warholian. You don't want to be seen as a person but as a creative fountain. But don't be an ass about it. Don't try and be above the 'little people' that help to get you there.
We have a case of Paris Hilton meets Amy Winehouse meets Edward Scissorhands meets Megan Fox. Take all the good qualities of each, and all the bad ones, blend them together and you get a picture of what Gaga currently, although perhaps unknowingly, portrays. You are perhaps complex, granted. But your success will be short lived unless you take into account that being obnoxious it a fast track to becoming someone that used to be famous for being a bit talented. If you've reached your peak already, fair enough...have you? But remember: You are a musician and a performer, remind people of that; not of how ridiculous you can look. And don't rebuke with notions of how it comforts you to look like that...you look like you are in pain.
That's it for now. If something interesting happens in politics, I'll write about it. But for now, it seems that Healthcare and Joe Wilson are being covered ten-fold by all the other sites. In the meantime, I'll be writing every week about something. If you think I should make a fulltime return to politics, message me. If not, hope you're liking the slight diversion so far. A break from political commentary has been long overdue but will be returned to; worry not.
